Scottish Stone Box Set

It’s no secret that Kelsey McKnight writes steamy historicals that will get your kilts in a twist, but now all four of the books in The Scottish Stone Series are available in a box set! For a limited time, you can preorder it HERE for only $0.99! Here’s a reminder of what takes place in each novel so you can see if you’re ready to escape into the Highlands.

Charlotte was born into a life of leisure with a father who always let her do as she pleased, until it came time for her to marry. He wishes to make an alliance with his business partner, an old man who is only interested in a silent and obedient broodmare. Charlotte is neither of those things, and when a Scottish nobleman offers her sanctuary in his Highland castle, she flees London. Now she’s not only running from a man who will see her wed by any cost, but her own growing feelings.

Penelope enjoys being a proper young lady and basking in the fruits of her father’s large department store. All that’s missing is the picture perfect husband, of which she has her pick of. One stands out. He’s tall, dark, handsome and a shipping mogul that has the connections to keep her father’s store in luxury goods. But there’s another who sparks something wild within her. Her comes to her in a blur of shadow and tartan, making her question if the picture perfect life is really what she wants.

Flora is a dreamer by nature, and has her romantic eye set on a particular warrior under her brother’s charge. Much older and sporting a wicked scar, he’s not exactly meant for a Scottish noble lady and her brother refuses the match. When Flora schemes to make her beloved marry her, it goes terribly wrong and she’s forced to flee to London to hide her shame. There, a familiar face offers understanding and an an unconditional care she never dreamed of. But the past never stays hidden and blood will spill over it.

Gwen is not one for romance, turning to numbers and accounting as her steadfast form of completion. When a marriage proposal comes by letter from the hand of a Spanish prince, she accepts. Practically, he’s the perfect man who will allow her the breadth to travel and will send a significant bride price. There’s just one problem…Gwen doesn’t speak Spanish. She entrusts a Portuguese captain who has taken safe harbor on her brother’s coast as a tutor, as he claims his Spanish is impeccable. But as her date to sail to Spain grows closer, Gwen realizes there may be more to life than just numbers.

Preorder this box set HERE now!

Hard to Hold

It’s cold in New Jersey, so after ready a few sweet romance, I needed something with a little more heat. So I saw a paperback with a shirtless dude being straddled and assumed it had some spice. Enter Hard to Hold by Julie Leto.

Heat Level: ♥♥♥

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Overall Rating: 4/6 Glass Slippers

Michael is a New York lobbyist who isn’t much for chasing skirts. But when he meets Anne at a concert, he thinks it might be time to break the rules a little for the sassy neighbor who knows how to have a good time. However, there’s something stopping him from really opening up…his well-managed Tourette’s.

Anne thinks that she’s finally met a man who can keep up with her. He’s handsome, smart, and she’s drawn to him like no other. However, he’s notoriously hot and cold and it isn’t long before Anne’s wondering if she’s being jerked around. Still, she can’t help but try her best to draw him out of his shell and into her bed.

While not the sizzling read I was hoping for, it was a nice change from the the squeaky clean things I’d been picking up. Now, I liked Anne a lot more than Michael. She was a total firecracker while he spent too much time obsessing over something that millions live and thrive with every day. You just wanted to reach into the book and yell at him to just kiss the girl and open up to her! But then again, isn’t that what a book should do? Make you feel? Overall, it had the right amount of romance and humor to make this a worthwhile read.

Love is All Around

It’s no secret that I’m burning through the boxes of paperbacks like it’s nobody’s business. Today’s book? Love Is All Around by Lori Devoti.

Heat Level: ♥

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Overall Rating: 3/3 Glass Slippers

Patsy has lived in Daisy Creek her whole life and is sick to death of life in the small town. While she bags groceries to pay the bills, she hopes her web design skills will be her ticket to greener pastures. Daisy Creek is dying and she’ll be damned if she gets trapped in a dust bowl where there are no jobs and nothing to do. But there’s one kink in her plan to escape…Will.

Will’s hit the big time. Since he moved away from Daisy Creek, he managed to make quite a bit of money. But he never felt at home in the big city. He liked the closeness and simple living of Daisy Creek. However, there’s one thing that isn’t simple in that small town…Patsy.

This book was alright, but it was missing something. Patsy was relatable and hilarious and honestly way more interesting than Will. He was just lacking the development I would have wanted for the hero of a romance novel this length. I wanted sparks and excitement, but it just fell a little flat. Overall, not a bad book, just not one I’d seek out again.

What Are Your Kids Reading?

I love to write, I love to read, and I love introducing my daughter to new and classic books. Instilling an inquisitive mind and the ability to enter the worlds these books create has always been important to me. So I thought it might be fun to chat about what’s on my three-year-old’s reading list.

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines lived twelve little girls in two straight lines…I could read this book in my sleep. As a kid, I loved the Madeline books and had my mom bring home a Madeline hat when she visited Paris. It’s easy to read, has some cute rhymes, and has a splash of French. As far as the morals and stories, they’re relatable in any decade. There’s the misunderstood neighbor who just wants to be included, a dog who needs a home, and a group of girls who believe in the power of friendship.

Stormy Night by Salina Yoon

This one is new to me, but by a kid’s author who has quite a few cute stories and the matching stuffed toys. In Stormy Night, a little bear is scared of the storm, but his parents help him realize that there’s nothing to be afraid of. Perfect for the light sleepers in your house.

Just Go To Bed by Mercer Mayer

Hello, childhood, is that you calling? I’m not sure about you readers, but I had dozens of these Little Critter books, growing up. Out of all the kids books, this little…porcupine? hedgehog? beaver?…creature had the most relatable storylines and family of al the classic families. Little Critter was a bit of a brat, but always learned an important lesson, unlike a certain pox on society named Caillou. I have about fifty of these books from my youth all ready to go for story time.

Dinnertime for Chickies by Jane Trasler

The chickies in this book, and the rest of the series, are a trio of baby chicks being raised on a farm with Cow, Pig, and Sheep. Each story tackles a new topic that little kids can understand. In this, the chickies don’t want to eat their healthy dinner, but their farm animal caregivers tell them they at least need to try a bite. It’s a healthy way to promote a more varied diet, without the “finish what’s on your plate” narrative. Other topics in the collection include going to bed and getting a new little sibling. The art and rhymes are adorable, and the author is constantly making YouTube videos featuring the books in musical, puppet form.

The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Deisen

This book is a best seller, and deservedly so, as far as kids books go. There’s a little drama queen fish that just drags all his aquatic fish down with his bad attitude. Through the series, he learns something new about the importance of a positive attitude and trying hard, even when things are difficult. And it’s pretty funny to watch your kid try to mimic the longer words in the rhymes.

The Cat in the Hat by Dr Seuss

This book didn’t make my list because of its innovative storyline or because I have some old-school attachment to it. I like Dr. Seuss books for kids because the simplicity of the writing and the repetition makes it perfect for new readers. Really, all of the classic Dr. Seuss works should be in every little kid’s bookshelf. But none of the new age ones with the modern art. Stick to the oldies like There’s a Wocket in my Pocket.

Birthday Monsters by Sandra Boynton

Is your kid obsessed with their birthday? Mine is. Time is still just a vague idea to her, so she’s always asking when her next birthday is. Birthday Monsters is a cute and short board book that’s great for early readers. There’s some repetitive rhyming and simple drawings that make the book easy for young kids to master.

Ollie’s Halloween by Olivier Dunrea

I love the goslings in Dunrea’s books. The tiny geese go on all sorts of different adventures and learn about holidays, friendship, sharing, and all the rest of those child-friendly themes. While this particular book is about Halloween, it’s easy to find one featuring just about anything. The words and phrases are simple and the illustrations match the storyline perfectly, which can help your child to better identity words as they learn to read. I know it’s no longer Halloween, but according to my daughter, this book’s the best of the bunch.

So, there are my top kids books and series for now. As my daughter continues to learn, I’ll continue to update with more lists for the little readers in your life. Parents, let me know, what are your kids into?

Life a la Mode

I came upon this worn, little paperback in a box of books in my attic. The animated cover promised me some comedy, a light hearted romp, and maybe some romance. So I poured a glass of red to see what Linda Lenhoff had to offer in Life a la Mode.

Heat Level: ♥

Genre: Comedy

Overall Rating: 3/6 Glass Slippers

Holly isn’t your typical thirty-year-old single girl in the big city. She has a runaway dad who shacked up with a cousin, a mom who might have found love with a fishing enthusiast, and a sister who collects fiancés like your grandma collects Precious Moments figurines. She has a good job with an annoying boss and a coworker named Tom who definitely sends mixed signals. Things with Holly are anything but cookie cutter perfect.

While she helps her sister plan her “dream wedding” for the sixth time, she wonders if she’ll ever settle down again. Holly’s kissed some frogs and longs for a prince to save her from the constant madness that is her life. But she’s also a grown woman, and knows that the only person who can help her get her act together is herself. That’s easier said than done when your mom’s about to run off to Africa with her latest boy toy and your life needs to take a backseat.

This book is written in first person, present tense, which I personally find rather annoying, but that’s not why I gave this book 3/6 Glass Slippers. While parts of the book are comical and you find yourself rooting for poor Holly to just get her life together, you just…well, want her to get her life together. It’s like the author was going for the comedy of Bridget Jones and came up short. It all feels forced, and by the end of the book, you may feel tired of Holly and the loose ends she leaves you with. But the author has a way of writing some really great and dynamic dialogue that makes you connect with the characters, making it an alright book for a weekend read.